Cajun SpotlightCajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest September 2003 HACKBERRY RAMBLERS FILM DEBUTSThe
official American debut of Make' Em Dance: The Hackberry Ramblers
Story will be in Minneapolis in September. The Hackberry Ramblers are a
Cajun band started in 1933. The groups co-founders Luderin Darbone
and Edwin Duhon are still leading the group. The film by award-winning
documentary filmmaker John Whitehead (a St. Paul resident) was shown
in France this summer in Conjunction with an appearance by the band. The
documentary tells the story from the early days touring in a Ford Model
A to appearing on MTV. Also appearing on screen are Marcia Ball, Michael
Doucet, Rodney Crowell and Richard Thompson.
The
film is being shown as part of The Central Standard Film Festival September
17-21. Being shown with Make' Em Dance: The Hackberry Ramblers Story is
Polka Time. This documentary looks at the annual Gibbon Polka Fest. The
Gibbon Ballroom has a capacity of 4500, yet the town's population is only
712. This film is a look at great dance music and its ardent fans.
Two
screenings of these films are scheduled. One is Thursday, September 18
at 8:00 pm at St. Anthony Main 4 near downtown Minneapolis. The second
is Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 pm at The Heights Theatre near 44th and
Central in Columbia Heights. John Whitehead will be at the showings.
FALL ROUNDUP IN NORTH SAINT PAULFall
Roundup in North Saint Paul is September 19 and 20 and will feature several
bands in and around the city hall and by Mac's Dinette in North Saint
Paul. On Friday at 5:00 pm The Cajun Hot Soles play from 5 to 8
pm on the main stage followed by Dan Newton and Paradise Ranch in
the Livery stable.
Saturday
look for Power of Ten and a square dance with music
by Bill Hinkley & Rimshot (check for time). Other events over
the two days include a parade, car show, bingo, "Sonny & Cher", a climbing
wall, dunk tank and plenty more. For information check out www.nstpaulevents.com.
The address in North Saint Paul is 2526 7th Ave. E
FREE ZYDECO LESSONWhenever
there is a zydeco band playing Sunday night at the Half Time Rec
in St. Paul, Flory Katz and Dave Jordahl offer a free zydeco
lesson from 7 to 7:45 pm. Look for lessons on August 31, September 7, September
14 and September 21
THE KREWE PRESENTS...The
Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (the Krewe de Walleye)
has dances planned for Halloween, Thanksgiving Eve and New Year's Eve.
We'll have detailed information on these events in future issues. in addition,
Steve
Riley & the Mamou Playboys return to the Twin Cities for a dance
on Friday, November 14; the venue and time is TBA. To learn about Minnesota
Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association And to view other useful information
check out www.krewedewalleye.com.
MINNEHAHA FALLS BLUEGRASS FESTIVALThe
Laughing Waters Bluegrass Festival is Monday, September 1 (Labor
Day) at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. Lined up to play at this FREE festival
are Free Range Pickin', Middle Spunk Creek Boys, Tangled Roots, Becky
Schlegel and The Buffalo Gals. Music will be from 3:00 pm to
7:30 pm.
DALBO DANCES IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBERMark
your calendar now for two great dances this fall in the historic Dalbo
Town Hall. On Saturday, October 4, Duck For The Oyster will
be Playing contras, squares, schottisches, waltzes and more. From 7:00
to 7:30 pm Karen Kaufman will teaches basic social and partner dances.
Then, on Saturday, November 15, two Dalbo favorites return: Skandilous
and
the Cajun Hot Soles.
CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS IN OSHKOSHLynn
Stephany is offering two series of classes in Cajun-Zydeco Dancing
this fall through Fox Valley Technical College in eastern Wisconsin. They
will take place at the Oshkosh Seniors Center Annex in Oshkosh. Both series
meet on Tuesdays. The first runs from September 9 to October 14; the second
from November 4 through December 9. For more information call Lynn at 920-233-0931.
CAJUN JAMS STILL GOING STRONGThe
regular Cajun Jams at Homestead Pickin' Parlor continue to attract
a small but loyal group of musicians. Jams are held the second Wednesday
of each month from 7 to 9 pm. Homestead is located at 6625 Penn Avenue
South in Richfield. Regrettably there is no room for dancing, but if you
want to play some Cajun tunes stop by on any second Wednesday.
SMOKEY HOLLOW CAJUN MUSIC AND DANCE GATHERINGPlans
are in place to have the first-ever Cajun rendezvous September 12-14 at
the Smokey Hollow Campground in south central Wisconsin (north of Madison
between Lodi and Poynette). We expect that Cajun musicians and bands
from all over the upper Midwest will be on-hand to provide a family-friendly,
festive music and dance weekend. We hope you will be able to join
us. What do you need to do to participate? Simply put the dates on
your calendar and call Smokey Hollow Campground to make a reservation (the
number is listed below). They offer a variety of camping options. For additional
information check their web site at smokeyhollowcampground.com/index.htm
Since
folks will be arriving at various times Friday, we will use that
time for informal jamming and dancing. On Saturday we're hope to
start about 1:00 pm with a band showcase that will likely go until about
10:00 or 11:00 pm. Bands will rotate http://smokeyhollowcampground.com/index.htm
every hour with a dinner break. On Sunday we plan more informal jamming
and dancing. Most currently planned activities will take place at or around
the open air pavilion. Though our Smokey Hollow Cajun Music and Dance
Gathering will be free, we will be accepting donations ($10
Suggested for adults) to benefit a Cajun music archiving project in Louisiana.
There, a collection of old tapes of Cajun and Creole music and stories
was found in a storage area at LSU not climate-controlled. They need to
raise $50,000 to restore these recordings. If you have questions contact
one of the following folks:
SMOKEY HOLLOW CAMPGROUND W9935 McGowan Road Lodi, WI 53555 (608) 635-4806 (for reservations)
UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTSNOTE:
Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
NATIONAL SHORTCUT MONTHActually,
it's not National Shortcut Month. Our Music Research Staff took the
last week of August off to attend the State Fair and catch some great music
and partake of some pizza-on-a-stick and deep-fried Twinkies. Our editor,
left to find a theme for the quiz, went to the Web and found
that a number of organizations had selected September to espouse
their cause. Did you know September is National Honey /Sewing/Papaya/Rice/Biscuit/Coupon/Little
League/Ice Cream Sandwich Month, plus being Read-A-New-Book Month, Pink
Flamingo Month, Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month (finally!) and more?
For our quiz theme we chose National Piano Month. Each of the songs below
was performed by a pianist. Can you match the song with the performer?
* Special Internet Bonus QuestionBack to Cajun Spotlight PageBack to Newsletter PageBack to Main PageNOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT is an independent newsletter
about Cajun, zydeco and other traditional music & dance events and
news in the upper Midwest and beyond. A one year subscription is $10.00.
E-mail: Notessteps@aol.com
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